Device for protecting a padlock

ABSTRACT

A device (2) for protecting a padlock (22) and a lock (40,44,48) to which the padlock is connected, the device includes a shield portion (4) which is in the form of a generally C-shaped body having a mounting plate (6) extending across the body, the mounting plate (6) includes openings (6 and 18) through which the padlock shackle (26) passes, the device being held captive relative to the lock and substantially surrounding the padlock shackle and parts of the lock in order to minimise tampering of the padlock and the lock.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for protecting a padlock.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF PRIOR ART

Padlocks are frequently used to prevent opening of various types oflocks such as bolt locks, hasp locks and double angle locks. Generallyspeaking, the padlock is easily accessible to tampering. The padlock maybe broken by using bolt cutters he shackle away from the body of thepadlock. Various arrangements have been proposed to protect padlocksfrom this form of tampering. See for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,033,156;4,238,941; 3,828,591; 4,879,889; and 3,718,014; U.K. patentspecification Nos. 2,206,376A and 2,185,519A; and Australian patentspecification Nos. 26903/88; 23818/88; 60776/86; 57622/80; 66735/90 and38235/89. Another weakness with locks which are secured by padlocks isthe problem of sawing through the shackle, loop or hole through whichthe padlock shackle passes so as to open the lock. This problem isaddressed by some of the known arrangements but they tend to becumbersome or involve providing a substantially closed housing for thepadlock. U.K. specification No. 2,185,519A discloses a comparativelysimple device but it would have the practical disadvantage that the lockto which it is coupled would not be satisfactorily protected. Also itappears to be restricted to use with only hasp and staple types oflocks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple, robustand effective device which protects both the padlock and pans of thelock to which the padlock is coupled and which can be used with a numberof different locks.

According to the present invention there is provided a device forprotecting a padlock and lock, the padlock including a body and shackle,the lock including a first portion mounted on a surface, the firstportion having a shackle, loop or hole which, in use, is coupled to theshackle of the padlock; said device including a shield portion havingfirst, second and third legs disposed to form a generally C-shaped body,a mounting member mounted within said C-shaped body, said memberincluding an opening or openings through which, in use, the padlockshackle passes to hold the device captive relative lock with the padlockand the shackle, loop or hole of the first portion of the lock beingsubstantially covered by said C-shaped body characterised in that thefirst a,and third legs of said body extend, in use, towards said surfaceand include projections which, in use, lie adjacent to said surface.

When the device of the invention is used to protect a padlock on a bolttype, hasp type or double angle type of lock, the lock itself isfrequently mounted on a solid surface such as a wall or door jamb or thelike. The device of the invention together with the surface upon whichthe lock is mounted at least partially surrounds the padlock so as tomake it very difficult to tamper with the hook of the padlock. Inaddition, the device also serves to protect the hole or loop of the lockupon which the padlock is mounted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention will now be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the device mounted on a padlock;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view partly in section showing the device in situ;

FIG. 7 illustrates the use of the device on a bolt type lock;

FIG. 8 illustrates the use of the device with a hasp type lock;

FIG. 9 illustrates the use of the device with a double angle type lock;and

FIGS. 10 to 13 illustrate one technique for mounting the device on ahasp type lock.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device 2 of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. It comprises achannel portion 4 and cross plate 6. The channel portion 4 is formedfrom sheet metal so as to have a front leg 8 and two side legs 10 and12. The channel portion 4 is preferably formed from steel plate 1.5 to 5mm thick and preferably 2 mm thick. The material may be galvanisedplated or plastic coated so as to protect its surface. The cross plate 6is formed with a pair of mounting flanges 14 which lie inwardly adjacentto the side legs 10 and 12 of the channel member. The flanges 14 arepreferably spot welded to the respective side legs 10 and 12. The inneredge of the plate 6 includes a lug 13 which is received in slot 15formed in the front leg 8. The lug 13 interlocks with the slot 15 andstrengthens the connection of the plate 6 to the channel portion 4. Thecross plate 6 includes two opening 16 and 18 which are preferablysomewhat elongate or oval as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The upper and loweredges of the side walls 10 and 12 may include chamfers 20 which reducethe leverage area where a pinch bar or lever could be applied to thedevice in order to lever it off. The chamfers 20 also avoid sharp edgesand facilitate manipulation of the device in proximity to locks.

The inner edges of the side legs 10 and 12 include upper projections 17and 19 and lower projections 21 and 23. The principal function of theprojections is to assist in protecting the lock to which the padlock iscoupled, as will be described below.

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the device 2 with a padlock 22. Thepadlock has a body 24 and shackle 26 and it will be seen that theshackle of the padlock can be positioned so that it passe through bothof the openings 16 and 18. In this position, the shackle 26 liesgenerally within the channel portion 4 of the device.

FIG. 6 shows the device 2 of the invention when used in conjunction witha lock 28 mounted on a surface 30. The lock 28 includes an eyelet 32through which the shackle 26 of the padlock passes. The shackle 26 alsopasses through the plate 6 of the device in the same manner asillustrated in FIG. 5. When the padlock is locked, the shackle of thepadlock supports the device 2 such that generally speaking the shackle26 is surrounded by the channel member 4 and the surface 30. This makestampering with the shackle of the padlock very difficult. The eyelet 32of the lock is also substantially surrounded which would make itdifficult to break the lock by sawing through the eyelet. It will benoted that projections 17, 19, 21 and 23 are located closely adjacent tothe surface 30. This would make it very difficult to get access to thelock 28 by a saw blade or the like. The recesses defined between theprojections 17 and 21, and 19 and 23 can accommodate parts of the lock28.

FIG. 7 illustrates the use of the device 2 in conjunction with a bolttype lock 40 having a sliding bolt 39, mounting plate 41 and a pair ofeyelets 42, only one of which is illustrated. FIG. 7 shows the lock withthe bolt 39 closed with the device 2 of the invention coupled to thelock. It will be seen that the shackle 26 of the padlock passes throughthe openings 16 and 18 of the device 2 as well as one of the eyelets 42.The device 2 substantially surrounds the padlock and therefore tends tominimise the possibility of tampering with the shackle 26 of thepadlock. The projections 17, 19, 21 and 23 are located close to thesurface 30 upon which the lock 40 is mounted. The recesses between theprojections 17 and 21, and 19 and 23 provide clearance for the bolt 39and mounting plate 41.

FIG. 8 illustrates the use of the device 2 in conjunction with a hasptype lock 44 having a hasp 45 and loop 46 projecting from a mountingplate 47. FIG. 8 shows the hasp lock closed with the padlock 22 anddevice 2 of the invention coupled thereto. It will be seen that thedevice 2 again protects the shackle of the padlock and also the loop 46of the lock. The recesses between the projections accommodate the hasp45 and mounting plate 47 so that the inner extremities lie closelyadjacent to the surface 30 upon which the mounting plate 47 is mounted.Again this substantially prevents a saw blade being used to cut the loop46.

FIG. 9 illustrates the use of the device 2 in connection with a doubleangle type lock 48 having a pair of angle brackets 49, 51 each with aneyelet 50. FIG. 9 shows the shackle of the padlock passing through thealigned cyclers 50 as well as through the cross plate 6 of the device 2.Again, the device 2 protects the hook of the padlock as well as theeyelets. Again the spaces between the projections 17 and 21, and 19 and23 accommodate parts of the brackets 49 and 51.

FIGS. 10 to 13 diagrammatically illustrate one technique for mountingthe padlock on the device 2 and a hasp lock 44. FIG. 10 shows thepadlock 22 having its shackle 26 open so that the free end of the hookcan pass through the opening 16 of the device. The padlock is thenrotated in the direction of arrow 52 so that the free end of the shackleextends away from the plate 6, as seen in FIG. 11. The shackle 26 isthen passed through the loop 46 of the hasp lock 44. The recess betweenthe projections 19 and 23 allow the free end of the shackle 26 to reachand pass through the loop 46 of the lock. The padlock body and device 2are then rotated about a generally vertical axis, as indicated by arrow54, until the free end of the shackle 26 is aligned with the hole 18through the plate 6, as shown in FIG. 12. The padlock is then lowered sothat the free end of the hook passes through the opening 18. The padlockis then locked by moving the padlock body 24 upwardly relative to theshackle 26 as indicated by arrow 56 in FIG. 13 until the free end of theshackle is locked within the padlock body in the usual way.

Similar techniques can be used for mounting the device 2 on other formsof locks.

The dimensions of the device 2 can be varied in accordance with thesizes of the padlocks to be protected. Table 1 below sets out someexamples of devices of the invention and the various dimensionsA,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,K and L which arc marked in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Thedimensions in Table 1 are shown in millimeters.

    ______________________________________                                        MODEL   A     B      C   D    E   F    G   H    K   L                         ______________________________________                                        Example 1                                                                             80    120    30  40   12  75   20  10   40  65                        Example 2                                                                             56    110    25  30   10  70   20  10   35  52                        Example 3                                                                             36     60    20  15    6  40   10   8   30  35                        ______________________________________                                    

It will be appreciated from the above that the projections 17, 19, 21and 23 extend about 10 mm beyond the free edges of the side plates 10and 12 regardless of the size of the device. This is significant becausethe general scale of the device 2 is related to the size of the padlockto be used but the clearance provided by the projections 17, 19, 21 and23 tends to be related to the size: of the lock with which the device 2is to be used.

It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that theshape of the projections 17, 19, 21 and 23 can be varied. For instance,they may comprise semi-circular projections or rectangular projectionsor any combination. From a functional point of view, their inner endsshould lie as close as possible to the surface 30 upon which the lock ismounted so as to provide maximum protection for the lock. As mentionedabove, the space between the projections which defines recesses shouldbe reasonably generous so as to accommodate locks of different sizes.

In use it is preferred that the inner ends of the projections 17, 19, 21and 23 are spaced from the surface 30 by a distance in the range from 1to 5 mm and preferably about 2 mm but this will of course depend on thesize and geometry of the lock.

Of course other sizes could be made to meet particular requirements.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the an withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, thelegs 8, 10 and 12 need not be planar. The leg 8 does not need to betruly perpendicular to the legs 10 and 12. The holes 16 and 18 could bejoined to form a slot.

I claim:
 1. A device for protecting a padlock and lock, the padlockincluding a body and shackle, the lock including a first portion mountedon a surface, the first portion having a shackle, loop or hole which, inuse, is coupled to the shackle of the padlock; said device including ashield portion having first, second and third legs disposed to form agenerally C-shaped body, a mounting member mounted within said C-shapedbody and being connected to said first and third legs, said memberincluding an opening or openings through which, in use, the padlockshackle passes to hold the device captive relative to the lock with thepadlock and the shackle, loop or hole of the first portion of the lockbeing substantially covered by said C-shaped body, said first and thirdlegs having inner edges each having a recess therein spaced fromopposite ends of the legs, said inner edges, in using said device, lyingclosely adjacent to said surface with parts of the lock accommodated inat least one of said recesses.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1including two projections on each of said inner edges of said first andthird legs, the recesses being defined therebetween.
 3. A device asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said projections are located near upper andlower ends of the first and third legs.
 4. A device as claimed in claim1 wherein the mounting member includes a plate which lies in a planetransverse to the planes of the first, second and third legs.
 5. Adevice as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plate includes two of saidopenings.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said openings areoval shaped.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plate isintegrally formed with end flanges which are welded to opposed faces ofthe first and third legs.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein saidplate includes a projecting lug which is snugly received in a slotformed in the second leg.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein thewidth of the second leg is in the range of about 36 to 80 mm.
 10. Adevice as claimed in claim 9 wherein the length of the second leg is inthe range of about 60 to 120 mm.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 10wherein the first and third legs have widths in the range of 20 to 30mm.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein projections project fromthe first and third legs by a distance of about 10 mm.
 13. A device asclaimed in claim 12 wherein the spacing between pairs of projections isin the range of about 35 to 65 mm.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 1wherein the shield portion is integrally formed from steel plate about 2mm in thickness.
 15. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein ends of saidinner edges are chamfered.
 16. A device as claimed in claim 1 includingtwo projections on each of said inner edges of said first and thirdlegs, said mounting member including a plate lying in a plane transverseto the planes of the first, second and third legs and between saidprojections.